Modern romance via computer is a common mating option. Yet during the early '80s, it still seemed like something out of a sci-fi movie or TV show.

That concept, its musical era (think Devo, Kraftwerk, Sparks) and books by futurist authors (William Gibson, Ray Kurzweil) all had a major affect on Ra Ra Riot’s engaging third album, Beta Love.

On the title track, frontman Wes Miles sings: “I might be a prototype / But we’re both real inside.” He also wonders “who wants a human love?” amid “I Shut Off,” while “Binary Mind” references a “technocratic future world.”

Wednesday night at the Observatory in Santa Ana, a large, excitable audience saw the acclaimed New York City band deftly combine those fresh, sugary, New Wave-influenced melodies with trademark chamber-pop accents. Ra Ra Riot was dazzlingly illuminated by light bars that a bigger, major-label act would typically use.

Frequently turning up on tastemaker radio shows like KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic (which hosted the group Thursday morning) as well as KROQ’s Rodney on the Roq and Jonesy’s Jukebox, Ra Ra Riot is currently No. 4 on the CMJ New Music Report Top 20 album chart. A recent swing through the Far East found them sharing stages with Dirty Projectors and Best Coast.

Here, the musicians on electric guitar, bass, drums and violin were augmented by a fantastic tour drummer and cellist who doubled on keyboards and backing vocals. Having previously only seen a quick glimpse of the ensemble in the Mojave tent at Coachella 2010, I was pleased to finally witness a complete show in Orange County – and definitely wasn’t disappointed.

The 65-minute, 18-song set got off to a frenetic start with “Too Too Too Fast,” off the band's 2008 debut, The Rhumb Line. Then squelching synthesizer dominated the hyper “Binary Mind,” the first of eight tracks offered from the new release.

Miles had no trouble replicating his helium falsetto during “Beta Love” and several other songs: the aptly titled “Dance with Me” (many fans obliged all evening), a hauntingly dramatic “When I Dream” (reminiscent of mid-period Radiohead) and the jittery, keyboard-driven highlight “For Once.”

Another standout was the dense, Arcade Fire-esque “Ghost Under Rocks,” which swelled with intensity and concluded with crashing drums. Exuberant main-set ender “Boy” was capped by the mild-mannered vocalist jumping off the drum riser.

All told, the group struck a good balance between natural and synthetic sounds.

Formed last year under the moniker Koko, Santa Ana’s Pacific Air, one of two openers this night, has toured with Walk the Moon and Passion Pit and released an EP. Led by brothers Ryan and Taylor Lawhon, the dream-pop duo (expanded to five members live) delivered a solid half-hour set that brought to mind MGMT fronted by a less flamboyant Adam Lambert. Previewing a major-label full-length debut due this spring on Republic Records, they fared best on the infectious “Roses” (with a cool recorder intro) and the whimsical “Float,” complete with whistling and sleigh bells.

Earlier, Cayucas’ half-hour set was spirited and fun, along the lines of Vampire Weekend. The preppy L.A. alt-rock band infused their songs with plenty of group chants, surf guitar stabs and tambourine. Fronted by unassuming singer Zach Yudin, the laconic title track to their album "Bigfoot" (released by hip indie label Secretly Canadian) as well as the tribal “High School Lover” and “Will the Thrill” made the most indelible marks.

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